Drilling rig



Oct. 4-, 1932. w MITCHELL 1,881,413

DRILLING RIG Filed June 5, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l 50 0/33 21 5 g 21 34 g, Zb

M 1. 7L0 v o 32 u 5 2| o o L VV/LL/AM d'M/rrmfu INVENTOR ATTORN E! Oct. 4, 1932. w. J. MITCHELL DRILLING RIG Filed June 5, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VV/LL/AM L]. M/ TEHELL.

Inventor Attorney Patented Get. 4, 1932 res PATENT FFICE WILLIAM J. MITCHELL, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA DRILLING RIG- AppIication filed June 5, 1931. Serial No. 542,237.

My present invention relates to improvements in drilling rigs of the type adapted for use with rotary drilling machines for earth boring and drilling, mineral explorations, and particularly in mining operations where close quarters prevail and afi'ord only a limited space for the machine and its operations. The primary object of the invention is the provision of a comparatively small and compactly constructed machine capable of being handled by one man, which is adapted for facile adjustment within a wide range of operations in drilling or boring; which will perform its functions in such manner as to increase the etiiciency of the drilling machine during mining operations; and save both time andlabor required in the handling of the machine.

In carrying outmy invention I employ the usual jack-bar or post, and the motor and drilling machine, as a rigid unit, are mounted by a swivel connection on the supporting elements, in such manner that the motor and machine may be adjusted within a wide range for drilling, without necessity for changing the location of the support for the unit. The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts involving the motor and machine and the support, as will hereinafter be more fully set forth and claimed. In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combinedand arranged according to the best mode I have thus far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a View in elevation of the machine, showing the transverse supporting bar in section, and omitting the j aclr-bar or fixed supporting post. 7

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine of Figure 1 showing also the jack-bar or post and the transverse supporting bar on which the machine is mounted.

Figure 3 is a detail view showing my improved swivel head and the manner of mounting it on the transverse-supporting bar.

Figure 4: is a detail view at line H of Figure 3.. 1

Figure 5 is a detail view of the swivel head, and Figure 6 is a sectional detail view at line 66 of Figure 5. r

The usual type ofjack bar, or tubular post 1 is secured in fixed position by contact with the mine walls or other suitable supports, and usually this jack-bar is fixed in upright posi tion. A split clamp-head 2 is secured by bolts as 8 on the tubular post, and this clamp-head also has a clamp collar 4, with its axis disposed at right angles to the axis of the clamp head 2. By means of clamp bolts 5 the collar 4 is clampedsecurely in adjusted position on the transversely extending tubular bar 6 which is provided with an end collar 7 to limit movement of the bar 6 as it is being adjusted in the collar 5. Thus, by means of the clamp collar 1, the transverse supporting bar 6, usually in horizontal position, is rigidly fixed in adjusted position with rela- .70 tion to the tubular post or jack bar 1.

On the transverse bar, or swivel bar 6 is mounted an adjustable swivel head 8 of spherical shape, and slidable for adjustment on the swivel bar 6. By means of a locking '7 lever 9, which is pivoted at 10 on the outer end of the threaded tubular bolt 11, the spherical head or ball is locked in fixed or adjusted position. A detent 12 is operated by the cam lever 9, and-the detent passes through the tubular bolt, which is threaded into a portion of the head, whereby when the cam lever is turned as indicated by dotted lines in Figures 5 and 6, the detent impinges against the outer face of the swivel bar 6 to hold the swivel head in desired position. The swivel headmay be adjusted, by sliding longitudinally on the swivel bar, and then by manipulating the cam lever, the head is locked in fixed position rigid with the bar.

A pneumatic motor of the usual reciprocating type is indicated at M, and provided with a motor frame 13 that is bolted at 14 to the drill frame, thereby rigidly securing together the motor and the drill frames as a rigid unit for supporting the driving, transmission, feeding and control mechanism of the drilling machine.

As best seen in Figure 3 the drill frame 15 is of open design and is provided with a central semi-circular bearing section 16 for the swivel head 8, the remainder of the swivel bearing being completed by the use of a complementary semi-circular bearing cap 17 that is bolted to the bearing section at 18. The two bearing members 16 and 17, as indicated in Figure 4, are comparativelynarrow, and they encase the swivel head,with only a minimum frictional area thereby increasing the range of movement of adjustment of the machine-unit in orderthat theunit may be adjusted at various angles, some of which are indicated by dotted lines in Figure The machine and the machine frame, together with the motor are well balanced in their relation to the swivel head inv order that the machine-unit may be swung with facility about the swivel head to adjusted position, and then the machine-unit is rigidly secured by bolts 18 on the swivel-head.

The bolts 18 may be turned to loosen the bearing-cap17 for the purpose of permitting the machine unit to be turned or swung laterally in Figure 1 on a horizontal axis, or the unit may be turned on a vertical aXis as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2, and various angles of adjustment may be attained by a combination of horizontal and vertical swinging of the'unit, as will readily be understood.

7 The drill tool is mounted in the drill spindle 19 atv the upper end of the drill frame 15, and the usual chuck or holder 20 on the end of the'spindle is employed for securing the drill in place. The spindle, including the tubular feed screw 21 is journaled in bearings 22, 22, mounted on the drill frame above the swivel bearing, and the drill is rotated or revolved from thecrank shaft 23 of the motor through the transmission gears 24 on the crank shaft, the intermediate pinion 25and the driven gear 26, the latter on the drill spindle.

Above the bearings 22, 22 for the drill spindle are arranged a pair of bearings 27 for thecontrol shaft 28 of the drill, the shaft 28- being journaled inits bearings parallel with the spindle and: feed screw as shown.

At the left end of the control shaft in Figure 1- are shown the means for trans- ,mitting power from the-spindle to the shaft through the gear couple-29 and30, theformer the driving gear ofthespindle and the latter the driving gear on the control shaft, and the control shaft is thus driven to operate the feed screw 21. At theright: end in Figure 1. the control shaft imparts power to the feed mechanism through the multiple drive gears 31 to the driven gears 32 of. the feed mechanism, and these multiple gears are alternately engaged for feeding the drill tool as it isadvanced t'o its work, and for reversing the feed to withdraw the drill from its work.

Asthuss described it. will be apparent that the operating parts of the motor, the transmission mechanism, the feed mechanism, and the drilling mechanism are all mounted on the rigid unit including the motor frame and drill frame, and the parts are arranged in compact shape around the swivel head to properly balance the structure. Due to the proper distribution of the weight and balancing of the several parts of the unit, undue strains are eliminated from the joints of the structure and the-b-earings for rotating parts are correctly maintained in proper position to insure smooth operation of the parts.

For storing and" shipping, the motor and its frame may readily be detached from the drill frame, by the removal of the bolts lt at the joints 14c, and these parts may with equal facility be j oined together for drilling operations. Due to the minimum number of parts, the simplicity of construction, and the facility in adjusting the machine unit on the swivel head, the services of only one man are required for changing the position of'the machine to accomplish the mine drilling, and with comparatively slight exertion on. the part of the operator, the adjustments can be made.

As seen in Figure. 1 the balanced unit is centrally suspended or supported by means of the bearing 16 on the swivel head,.and the swivel connection may readily be loosenedto permit adjustment by turning the bolts, or the nuts 18 of the bolts 18, to release the bearing cap 17 from frictional contactwith the head. When the bearing cap is released, the whole weight of the machine unit is borne by the bearing member 16, and the unit is free to be adjusted on the swivel head. In replacing and tightening the bearingcap 17 on the swivel head, the cap may be manipulated with facility and tightened up with convenience.

The machine thus described and as illustrated is very small and compact and may readily be controlled by means of the con.- trol lever 33 and clutch 34, which although located at the top of the machine arereadily accessible for the operator, when required. Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as: new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a swivel bar and itssupport, of an adjustable swivel-head on the bar andmeans for securing said head in adjusted position, a drilling machine unit having its longitudinal axis disposedin diametrical relation to said head, a bearing member rigid with the unit and mounted on the swivel head to support the unit, a detachable bearing member, and means forclamping the latter on the head and in rigid relation to the. first bearing member.

2. The combination with a swivel bar and its support, of a swivel-head on the bar, a

drill frame, a bearing member on said frame mounted on the head for supporting the frame, a drilling machine supported on the frame, a motor and transmission mechanism between the motor and the machine, a motor frame and means for attaching said motor frame to the machine frame, the alined longitudinal axes of said frames disposed in diametrical relation to said head, a complementary detachable bearing member for the head, and bolts for securing the bearing members in clamped position on the head.

3. The combination with a swivel bar and its support, of a spherical swivel-head adjustable on the bar and means for securing the head in adjusted position, a drill frame, a bearing member rigid with the frame and mounted on the head for supporting the frame, a drilling machine supported on the frame, a motor and transmission mechanism between the motor and the machine, a motor frame and means for attaching the motor frame to the machine frame, the alined longitudinal axes of said frames disposed in diametrical relation to said head, a complementary detachable bearing member for the head, and bolts for securing the bearing members in clamped position on the head.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM J. MITCHELL. 

